Air New Zealand has announced it will soon require customers travelling anywhere on its international network to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
In a statement, chief executive Greg Foran said New Zealand's national carrier is getting ready to reconnect with the world - and would be mandating vaccination for customers on overseas flights from February 1, 2022.
"Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the new reality of international travel - many of the destinations Kiwis want to visit are already closed to unvaccinated visitors," Foran said on Sunday. "The quicker we get vaccinated, the sooner we can fly Kiwis to places like New York, Vancouver and Narita."
He said there was support from both staff and customers to mandate the vaccine and tht the measure would give peace of mind to both, he said.
"It came through loud and clear in our recent consultation process with employees and we want to do everything we can to protect them," Foran says.
It comes after airlines across the Tasman, Qantas and Virgin Australia, in August confirmed it would be "necessary" for all employees to be vaccninated.
